Avoid These 7 Cover Design Mistakes

Many in the publishing industry agree that a book’s cover is its number one marketing tool. Yet, the Internet is full of hilarious and grimace-inducing examples of bad book covers. Don’t sell your book short before readers even open the cover — avoid these common cover design blunders:

A title that is too small or difficult to read

A cover that doesn’t translate well to thumbnail size — many people shop for books online

Don’t use your own artwork, or your children’s artwork, on the cover

Steer clear of clip art or stock images that come with your computer

Don’t use more than two fonts

Never use Comic Sans or Papyrus font

Avoid garish color combinations and gradients

To make a great cover, you need to start with a good design, preferably by a professional who can draw on experience and knowledge to create a cover that conveys your title’s tone and message. But it’s equally important to ensure that your great design is carried through the printing process by your printer. Sheridan Books offers the Component Template Creator to make sure your design is accurately transferred to the finished book.

Print books have a tremendous advantage over eBooks because readers can see and touch the covers. With this idea in mind, consider making your book covers stand out by adding enhancements such as foil stamping, embossing and debossing, spot coating, or a combination of these features. Click here to view our blog post Let Your Cover Shine which further explains these enhancements. Your cover is the first thing readers see — take a little extra time to make it special!